Scarlett Johansson: ChatGPT voice sounds 'eerily similar' to mine
Scarlett Johansson recently expressed her shock and anger at how one of the voices in ChatGPT sounded remarkably similar to hers. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has decided to temporarily pause the usage of one of the voices in response to the comparisons drawn between the voice and the Hollywood actress.
Similarity to Johansson's Voice
After an update that aimed to make ChatGPT more conversational and even flirtatious, some users noticed a striking resemblance between Johansson's voice and one of the options named Sky within the app. This comparison stirred discussions among commentators and users alike.
Johansson's Previous Involvement with AI Voice
Johansson is known for providing the voice of the AI interface in the 2013 film "Her," where her voice captured the attention of audiences. The film portrays a story set in the near-future, where a character played by Joaquin Phoenix develops a unique relationship with a virtual assistant.
Johansson's Reaction and Action Taken
Johansson revealed that OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, approached her in September, proposing that she lend her voice to the system. Despite the initial proposal, Johansson declined the offer for personal reasons. However, to her surprise, the voice of the newest system, named 'Sky,' bore a striking resemblance to her own voice.
Upon hearing the released demo, Johansson expressed her shock and disbelief at the uncanny similarity. This prompted her to take legal action by hiring lawyers to investigate the process behind choosing the voice.
OpenAI's Response and Actions
In a blog post accompanying their statement, OpenAI clarified that the voices used in ChatGPT were not intended to mimic any celebrity's voice deliberately. The company emphasized that each voice, including Sky, belonged to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice.
The process of selecting the voices involved an extensive five-month procedure that included professional voice actors, talent agencies, casting directors, and industry experts. The final selection was made after discussing the technology's capabilities, limitations, risks, and safeguards with the shortlisted voice actors.
While OpenAI has unveiled the GPT-4o model with enhanced conversational features, the updated voices are yet to be fully implemented for Chat-GPT subscribers.
For further information on the voice selection process, you can read OpenAI's official post here.
